Italy's confidence votes

Berlusconi scrapes through

RIOTING has broken out in Rome after Silvio Berlusconi's conservative government narrowly survived a censure motion in parliament that had brought it to the brink of disaster.

Earlier this afternoon the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of parliament, voted by 314 to 311 against a motion of no confidence that could have forced the prime minister to resign from office. The ballot brought to a head a crisis that had been brewing since July when followers of Gianfranco Fini, Mr Berlusconi's former ally and successor-in-waiting, renounced the majority whip in protest at their leader's virtual expulsion from the governing People of Freedom (PdL) movement. But it also triggered a violent explosion of anger in a country where the government's opponents had been looking forward to its downfall.

Trade unionists, revolutionary socialists and people left homeless by last year's earthquake in Italy's central Abruzzo region joined students protesting at a recently-passed university reform bill in a march through Rome that served as a prelude to the worst violence the city has seen in recent years.

Cars were set alight, flaming barricades erected and police ambushed. Eyewitnesses spoke of unprovoked beatings meted out by some police to young people who had not apparently taken part in the violence. Smoke and tear gas floated through the old city as its maze of cobbled lanes rang to the sounds of exploding firecrackers and ambulance sirens.

The disturbances erupted against a background of claims that Italy's billionaire prime minister had secured the vote with promises to opposition lawmakers of high office or more tangible benefits. Earlier, Mr Berlusconi and most of his supporters had walked out of the Chamber in protest at a speech by Antonio Di Pietro, the leader of the Italy of Principles (IdV) party, who said that the prime minister had bought opposition deputies to ensure his survival.

Two of Mr Di Pietro's own followers defected to the government side, as did four of Mr Fini's 30-odd supporters. Mr Fini acknowledged that the defection of his followers had made the outcome of his revolt “even more painful”.

Such was the tension as the deputies voted one-by-one that the rebel leader left to smoke his first cigarette after a year away from nicotine. As the division was taking place, a scuffle broke out between some of the deputies over an insult allegedly levelled at one of the lawmakers who unexpectedly changed her vote at the last minute.

The last-minute switches by Mr Fini's followers offset the efforts of three women deputies in the final stages of pregnancy. One came to parliament in an ambulance. Another, also a member of Mr Fini's faction, was pushed into the chamber in a wheelchair.

Apart for disturbances, that was just a storm in a glass of water (as the Italians say ..), good only for the Italian mass media business that sells more newspapers, more publicity and makes more money.
Indeed, it won't happen too much of good for the Italians on the specific issue; Berlusconi got Parliament approbation for a minimal majority, which will prevent almost any relevant proposition from being approved in the near future, with a Government immobility, as just interested in saving itself to be able to reach the next political election.

Once the Italian political election will be over, with an “assemblage” of parties as winner from the left or right wing (it does not matter, as all of them are just interested in power, seats, money and personal welfare, in accordance with the “Italian life style” ...).
Again, the political scene will not change that much, as they would have succeeded with a minimal majority that will prevent almost any relevant proposition from being approved by the Parliament, resulting into the same Government immobility.

Unfortunately, the Italian government system does not allow any relevant substantial change to itself, not matter which party is in power. In addition, it does not make people in power to truly govern and make what is necessary for the country as well, taking for granted the willing for that...
Italy is a young democracy with a political system that has a lot of defects and important anomalies. For example, the “Presidente della Camera dei Deputati” (Mr Fini, a super-partes role, ranking third in the country political power, supposed to act as a kind of “referee” for Parliament activity) that take part actively to political life (while on the role!), founding a new party, attempting to make its own government loosing the power. This is something never seen so far, though it does not exist any law preventing that from happening, yet considering the reasons along with the current government honorability...
Moreover, the country biggest mass-media company owner can be PM as well, with not antitrust low in place and imaginable consequences as result ...

To Zorzon I wish to point out that, all right, few politicians are morally reliable, although these ruling people have revealed themselves above any expectation about dishonesty and despise to any moral value. However a historical review is of little use, if you furthermore think you can reform something in the Constitution, that will bring little advantage as well, you can't change a lot of people's mind, at least in the short time.

@LUKKASS.You forgot of writing "debt".Ireland is much more rich of debts than Italy.In my country,we are not used to think that the more you have debts,the more you are rich.Frankly,in Italy those who think this way are considered as folks needing to be hospitalized.

I understand the enemies of Berlusconi:if i had to suffer the long stretch of humiliations they suffered in their attempt to kill the democracy in Italy,i would be nervous like them.You are like that guy that screamed "me ne ha date...ma gliene ho dette!".Go on,dear friends,if this helps to remove your nightmares.Call us "barking dogs,and s...ts",if it helps.The more you scream your calumnies and insults,the more we get lots of fun and prepare new blows to your harmless hate.

Insults of any kind are appearing on this blog to defame the Berlusconi supporters,and the Moderstor forgets of deleting them.He moderates me,and my posts.This blog is turning into an example very clear of the world the Italian left dreams,this eft is ideed the reason why people votes for Berlusconi.Il Cavaliere is the Great Wall stopping the barbars.

To BrightTony
I completely agree with you. The reasons for such behavior must be at the bottom, actually related to the culture in reference to the thing you mentioned. Governing the Italians it is not difficult, it is useless! As someone sadly said in the past .. That is not a justification, but there would need a change starting from the ground, among the new generation, the young ones, which is however very far from taking place in a country whit a statistically old population, archaic rules and so on ...
However, please note that Italy is a young democracy (not yet 150 years of history ..) , which is the main reason of many facts and circumstances that can be seen as anomalies, not considering the context in which they occur.